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August 2025

August 15, 2025

Owls, Penguins, and Joy

Just about fifteen years ago, on a beautiful summer morning very similar to the ones...

April 2025

April 11, 2025

The Bible and Penguins

In my American Philosophy class, a class that I am enjoying greatly because I have...

April 25, 2024

It’s World Penguin Day!

A colleague from the history department with whom I have team-taught several times over the...

August 2017

August 01, 2017

Am I an Impostor? Do I Have Any Real Significance?

As everyone else I know, I often suffer from impostor's syndrome and feelings of insignificance....

August 31, 2016

The Joyful Owl

Just about seven years ago, on a beautiful summer morning very similar to the ones we...

August 29, 2016

First Day of Classes

Today is the first day of the semester at my college. I have been anticipating...

July 2016

July 18, 2016

Random Midsummer Thoughts

After the most beautiful Rhode Island June--sunny and low eighties day after day--in my twenty-two...

February 2016

February 05, 2016

Robbed by the Kiss Cam

“Wow, Vance!” my colleague exclaimed as he saw my office in our new philosophy department...

January 2016

January 08, 2016

Losing is not as much fun as Winning

Anyone who knows me or who reads this blog even occasionally knows that I am...

September 2015

September 04, 2015

Life at Ten Miles per Hour

Following my bike ride the other day, as I frequently do I posted some pictures...

June 2015

June 14, 2015

Sowing the E-Seed

Today's gospel is about sowing seed--a promising but ultimately inefficient activity, both in the field...

January 2015

January 23, 2015

The Dachshund and the Lion

Those who know me well or read this blog once in a while know that...

January 09, 2015

Computer Sabbath

If multitasking is the enemy of reverence, which I’m quite sure it is, then I’m...

November 2014

November 30, 2014

Bagpipes and Cats

Today is Saint Andrew's Sunday (which happens to fall this year on the actual Saint...

October 2014

October 24, 2014

I Am Not Your Friend

If it’s Friday, it’s time to think once again about interactions between various constituencies in...

October 21, 2013

Random Thoughts

Persons wearing dark blue corduroy jackets should not eat powdered donuts. If I could ask...

September 2013

September 25, 2013

Well-Dressed Birds

I have two beautiful offices on campus, my permanent office in the philosophy department and...

May 2013

May 02, 2013

A Visit from Big Bird

My text to Jeanne at 6:37 AM, Thursday April 25: This is promising to be...

February 2013

February 10, 2013

Magnetic Jesus

In one of the host of recent academic books written by an atheist about religion...

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